Seven Souls

Adjusting to be Sophia

Christiana’s POV

A week had passed since I woke up in the hospital as Sophia, knowing I was dead. Nothing went through this week, and Sam never left my side once. Saying Sam is the sweetest man I have ever seen wouldn’t be enough.

Sophia got herself a jackpot. Sam was such a sweetheart, very caring, also super handsome. Everything I needed. He brought it in a few minutes.

Maybe I could get used to her life once I’m out of this hellhole. The good news, they were discharging me out today.

The bad news, I could barely walk on my own and there was a very long journey with physical therapy. Life couldn’t be much worse than that. I mean, I was living in another body.

Speaking of Sophia, I didn’t see her for the past week, either. I could still feel her presence, but she was just silent.

I reached out for the mirror on the nightstand and gazed at my reflection. Some bruises across my face were healing. Sophia looked beautiful. Long brunette hair, her eyes were a mix of green and hazel.

I ran my hand through my hair, having overwhelming feelings trapped in my chest.

They weren’t mine. I breathed out, knowing that Sophia was around. Her overwhelming feelings were the only thing that told me she was in there.

I nibbled on my lips, having an idea to talk to her. If she could see what I do, then she could hear me.

“Sophia, are you there?” I whispered, closing my eyes.

Her voice was faint and I could barely hear it. I tried to concentrate on her voice, but continuous knocking on the door broke my concentration. I opened my eyes, glancing at the door. “Come in,” I huffed.

The door creaked open, and it was the nurse; she approached me with a duffle bag in her hands. “I’m going to get ready by myself, thank you,” I said, waving with my hand for her to leave.

I sat up, setting my feet on the cold marble floor. I glanced at her, as she didn’t leave. She just blinked at me, still standing in her place. “I told you I can do it myself,” I said, getting annoyed by her.

I heard the door open and footsteps approaching us. “What’s wrong?” I identified his voice as Sam.

I turned to look at him. “I can get ready on my own. Tell her to leave,” I grumbled.

It’s not like I was paralyzed.

He motioned with his head to the door; the nurse put the bag next to me and left. “Thank you,” I mumbled.

He turned around and stood in front of me. “I’ll help you,” he said, taking my hand in his grasp.

My eyes widened, and I could feel blood gathering in my cheeks. “I’m not a child,” I argued, rolling my eyes.

I wasn’t comfortable for someone to see me in my underwear, even if I was in someone else’s body.

He noticed me blushing and chuckled. “I saw everything, you know that?” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

“I-I’m not comfortable,” I shuttered, taking my hands out of his grip.

He pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded.

“I’ll wait for you outside, in case you need me,” he muttered, walking to the door.

A twinge of pain lingered in my chest. “I’m sorry, Soph,” I whispered in a hushed tone, hoping I didn’t mess up anything.

I opened the bag and took the clothes out. It was a pair of shorts and a baggy hoodie to cover my scars. I suffered putting them on but did it, eventually.

My eyes fell on the wheelchair that was across the room. I could walk, but I needed to lean on someone when I walked.

I breathed in and got up, feeling my legs wobbly as I stood up. I moved one leg but couldn’t move the other; I felt weak in that body. Then how did it feel when I died?

Right, I didn’t get the chance to experience that.

The only thing I remember was the car coming in my direction and I didn’t drive away. I could’ve lived if I just drove.

“It was painful and sad.” Sophia’s voice appeared in my brain and I zoned out, focusing on her voice.

The memories rushed in and I remembered my last moments. Kylie was by my side, holding my hand in hers and begging me to stay with her. Knowing that my sister was by my side brought me some comfort.

I gasped once I was back to reality. Sweat beads formed on my forehead, and I realized I was on the floor.

The door opened, and I looked up, seeing Sam rushing towards me. He helped me up. “Why didn’t you call me? Are you okay?” He asked, looking at me with concern.

“I’m fine, I just slipped, no big deal,” I answered, and he breathed out, helping me to the wheelchair.

“I forgot you are stubborn,” he remarked, and I chuckled mentally, knowing there was something common between me and Sophia.

“It wasn’t this far,” I said, averting his gaze.

He sighed, and I could feel the shifting in his mood, he was upset.

Even when he was angry, he still kissed my forehead. He sure loved Sophia, and he was scared to lose her. This simple kiss brought him comfort as much as it brought for me.

I wasn’t falling for him; I kept repeating in my mind.

He went over to the bed and brought the duffle bag, throwing the strap on his shoulder. Then he went behind the wheelchair, pushing it.

We passed the hallway and I could smell the medicine along with the sanitizers; I hated that smell. It only reminded me of death and that I should be dead, buried six feet underground.

Instead, I was walking on the surface as I never died, the irony.

We got out of the hospital; it had been a while since I smelled fresh air; I breathed in deeply, feeling alive again.

“I hate hospitals,” I muttered, glancing at Sam. He smiled softly at me, ruffling my hair.

He stopped us in front of a black van. Then he came to my side, sliding his arm under my knees while the other supported my back.

“You know I could walk?” I remarked, and he ignored me.

Alec came out of the driver’s seat and opened the door. Sam put me on the seat, then put on my seatbelt. Then he went to the driver’s seat while Alec sat in the passenger’s seat.

A few minutes passed in complete silence. My eyes were on the window as I looked at the packed streets.

The radio broke the silence, and it was a news report. I focused on what they were talking about, and it was about the movie I was shooting.

“After Christiana passed away, the movie got canceled, it was halfway through and they couldn’t do the work all over again,” the woman said.

“That’s sad that she passed away. She was talented,” Alec remarked, making Sam glare angrily at him. He knew I crashed into her, but I don’t think Alec knew.

Alec turned the radio off, leaving us in silence, and another set of minutes passed. Sam was tense, glancing at me occasionally to make sure I wasn’t hurt.

“My girlfriend is inviting you guys for lunch, today,” Alec said with a grin after turning his phone off

Sam snorted, and I just kept my mouth shut, watching them. But why do I have that feeling that I know his girlfriend?

Nope, it was a coincidence that Sophia and I were going to the airport.

And his girlfriend can’t be my sister.

“Soph can’t walk, dumbass,” Sam mumbled, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Then we will bring the food with us,” he said, gazing at his brother.

It was awkward watching them argue, and since I woke up, I only saw the soft side from Sam. This harsh side of him was weird.

“It’s okay. I’ll be glad to meet her,” I said, grinning at him.

Sam’s eyes went to the rearview mirror, looking back into mine, making sure if I was really okay.

I stretched my arm out, putting my hand on his shoulder. I squeezed it and he tore his gaze away, focusing back on the road.

A couple of minutes later and we reached a big house, nope I meant a mansion.

What was Sophia’s job that gave her all that money so she could live here? I remember seeing her in an office with a pile of files, but office workers can’t guarantee that kind of money.

“Welcome home,” Sam said as he parked the van. He turned around, taking my hand in his, kissing my knuckles.

I smiled at him. Then he got out of the car, Alec following him. The door opened, revealing Sam. Then Alec came, pushing the wheelchair.

“Can’t I just walk?” I grumbled, looking at the chair with hatred.

“It’s just for a while, then you can walk whenever you want,” he said, removing my seatbelt.

He helped me out of the car and sat me down in the wheelchair, then he pushed the chair towards the mansion.

“Why does it look like no one has been living here?” I asked, glancing at the overgrown grass and dusty windows.

“I couldn’t go inside, knowing you were on the verge of death,” he mumbled. I looked up and saw tears filling his eyes. Regret filling me instantly for opening my stupid mouth.

I sucked at comforting people, but being with him I had that new side and that’s comforting him. I put my hand on his hand and he stopped pushing the wheelchair.

“I’m home now, we are home,” I said. He breathed out and nodded, smiling widely at me.

He kissed my head and mumbled something. He went to the door and opened it, then pushed it open.

“Alec, bring everything inside please,” he said to his brother, then came behind my wheelchair, pushing me inside the house.

My eyes wandered the modern living room. The whole place had a lot of pictures of Sophia and Sam. One photo caught my attention, revealing to me who Sam was.

Sam was from the Stevens family, which explained why he was living in a mansion in Los Angeles. He was a freaking billionaire.

“I-I ugh... moved our room downstairs, so you wouldn’t use the stairs,” he said as he stopped. He came around and stood in front of me, squatting down so he could be in my eyesight.

“Our r-room?” I shattered, petrified to be with him in one room. He thinks I’m Sophia, so what if he goes beyond the line of just kissing?

Sophia would burn my soul.

He furrowed his eyebrows, confused by my question. “Yeah,” he murmured.

I averted his gaze and pressed my lips together, not knowing how to tell him I wasn’t comfortable being with him in the same room.

I breathed out and looked at him. “Can I have a room by myself? I need some time alone.” he lowered his gaze and nodded.

“Okay, whatever makes you happy,” he said, his hand cupping my cheek.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, feeling guilty for breaking his heart like that.

“I understand, sweetheart, and I will give you all the time you need,” he said, pecking my lips.

His eyes zeroed into mine, and I could see the sadness visible in his hazel eyes. He swallowed down, moving his hand away and placing it on my knee.

“Do you want anything?” He asked, his eyes still staring into mine.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I mumbled.

He straightened himself and pushed me towards a closed wooden door; he opened the door and let me inside a room. There was a king-sized bed in the middle of the room and a lounge chair under the window, a closet facing the bed, and two doors beside the closet.

“Do you need any help?” He asked, and I shook my head.

“Sam, a little help here,” Alec called out.

I put my hands on the wheels, turning to face Sam. “Go help him. I’ll be fine,” I said, thanking God for Alec.

He looked hesitant, but he gave in and went to help his brother, closing the door behind him.

I found the bathroom and did my business, suffering a little to move on my own. Pushing myself was also hard. I was about to open the door but heard them talking, so I eavesdropped.

“What’s wrong with you?” I guess that was Alec, as Sam had a deep voice.

“Wrong with me? She lost our baby, and I nearly lost her. She even didn’t talk about the baby, she’s bottling her feelings. Those are signs of depression,”

“Of course she must be depressed. She just killed someone and lost her baby. Did you expect her to be good?” Alec sneered, and I closed my eyes, breathing shallower.

I nibbled on my lips as he blurted out his feelings. “Even when the doctor told her she didn’t shed any tears, he told me it was just a trauma, but I know my Sophia, she’s heartbroken.” His voice was getting louder.

He was right. Sophia was heartbroken over her baby. The memory of her weeping over her baby was stuck in my mind.

I was Christiana and I don’t even know how to be Sophia while I’m a freaking actress.

That poor guy outside was breaking over his lover, and I was the only one there for him.

“Sophia, what should I do?” I whispered, fluttering my eyes open, wishing to hear her answer.

Of course, she didn’t answer, and I was left all alone, worrying over what to do.